Lifestyle modifications can bring down the incidence of GDM and gestational hypertension: Study
The body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy and gestational
weight gain (GWG) may have an association with the outcome of pregnancies. Preeclampsia,
gestational diabetes, macrosomia show an association with the BMI. Small-for-gestational
age (SGA) infants and preterm births are more seen with mothers with low BMI. Obese
women are likely to benefit from low GWG. Both BMI and GWG are closely related
to lifestyle, and genetic traits and other medical conditions. Physiologic
weight gain in pregnancy is contributed to by the foetus (3.2-3.6 kg), fat
deposition (2.7-3.6 kg), increased blood volume (1.4-1.8 kg), increased
extravascular fluid volume (0.9-1.4 kg), amniotic fluid volume (0.9 kg), breast
enlargement (0.45-1.4 kg), uterine hypertrophy (0..9kg), and placenta (0.7kg).
Glucose intolerance of first onset in pregnancy or first
recognition during pregnancy is considered as gestational diabetes mellitus
(GDM). GDM is a known risk factor for perinatal complications, and later
development of type2 diabetes mellitus. The pregnancy related weight gain can
contribute to fat deposition and insulin resistance and it is usually in the
second trimester. Insulin resistance is more if there is a rapid or disproportionate
increase of weight.
A retrospective analysis of the data collected from 720
pregnant mothers during the period from January 2017 to January 2019 in a
tertiary health care centre.
Gestational hypertension was significant in overweight women
and those who gained weight above recommended range. (22.4% Vs. 0%; p
<0.001).
GDM was noted in a significant percentage of pregnant women
within the recommended weight gain group. (12.4% Vs. 0%; p<0.001). Obesity
in pregnancy ranges from 1.8% to 25.3%.
In this study, authors had 75 (10.4%) overweight women and
22 (3.1%) obese women. The results show that both obesity and overweight are
high-risk factors for gestational hypertension. Study results showed that 78.7%
of pre- pregnancy underweight, 4.6% normal weight, and 16.7% overweight had
inadequate GWG. All women with normal pre- pregnancy BMI had adequate GWG.
Further excessive GWG was seen most in pre-pregnancy overweight women (66.4%)
than those with normal weight (30.8%) or underweight (2.8%). GWG was higher in
higher BMI groups, showing that overweight and obese women are more likely to
have more than recommended GWG. Excessive and inadequate GWG both can lead to
adverse pregnancy outcomes. This is echoed by several studies which show that
women with weight gain outside the recommended range have a higher incidence of
pregnancy complications. The study also
showed that excessive weight gain was associated with hypertensive disorders in
pregnancy.
About three fourth of the antenatal patients had normal
weight gain. All patients with normal BMI had recommended weight gain. Most
women with low pre-pregnancy BMI, had low GWG and most women with high BMI had
more GWG. Gestational hypertension was associated with high prepregnancy BMI and
more than recommended GWG. No mothers with recommended weight gain
developedgestational hypertension. Both Women with recommended and less than
recommended GWG developed GDM, while no women in more than recommended GWG
group had GDM. Pre- pregnancy dietary counselling, physical and lifestyle
modifications have a role in bringing down the incidence of gestational
diabetes mellitus and gestational hypertension. Efforts should be taken to
reduce weight before pregnancy and control excessive GWG during pregnancy to
reduce such complications.
Source: Sreelakshmy K and Shahnas M / Indian Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynecology Research 2024;11(1):66–69; https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijogr.2024.012
